It's been decades since residents enjoyed a smooth ride down Wakonda Drive. Cracks and potholes plague the street in the Lakewood neighborhood.

The city is moving forward with a major infrastructure project aimed at improving Wakonda and Holly Drive.

News of a facelift for Lakewood isn't going over too well because the city is charging residents thousands in the process.

“I did not know the cost was going to be passed along to the homeowners,” said Danielle Lynn of Norwalk.

Homeowners learned at a public meeting Thursday that they face assessments between $2,500 and $8,000 per property. Residents are on the hook for curb and gutter replacements.

"(City taxes can’t finance the whole project because) the money isn't there,” said Tim Hoskins, Norwalk’s public works director. “Projects like this couldn't happen without participation from the property owners."

David Knoblach owns three properties on the block. He said the repairs are long overdue.

"They've done some spot repairs on the street and that's just not working," Knoblach said.

However, others aren't so happy. Todd Reese found out the project will likely cost him around $6,000.

"I know I can hire a contractor and do it for half that price," Reese said.

It was still unclear just how much taxpayers will be forking over for this project because, according to one city councilman, the project has yet to be bid out to a contractor. Once that is done, officials will have a better indication how much residents will be paying in assessments.

A Norwalk city councilman said residents are paying for about 10-percent of the overall project cost.

Officials are holding two more public meetings on the topic. The next one takes place at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Norwalk Public Safety Building.